Seriously, we mean to blog!

I took a huge break from my normal life while I was out in California, and therefore didn't get around to updating this site very much. I fail. Anyhow, I am back into the swing of normal life and regular updates will ensue. Look for pictures from my trip soon!

Phone Calls

I suck at the telephone.

I find that when people call me unexpectedly, I often have an inappropriately neutral response. Then after I get off the phone, I think of everything I should have said. Its like the telephone retards my thought formation as well as my personality. To combat this problem I am considering screening my calls just so I can listen to the message and mentally prepare myself...

Does anyone else have this problem?

My Hatred Burns with the Fire of 10,000 Suns

The Missouri Department of Revenue handles vehicle registration here in Missouri and I hate them. Yes, hate. Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate them. Before, living in California, I had always been told of horrible DMV experiences that involved waiting for hours on end. That is nothing compared with the horrors that is the Department of Revenue Licensing office here in Springfield.

Never once have been able to go there on my first try and get something done. A trip into the licensing office inevitablly results in several rounds of incomplete instructions from the clerks that lead to multiple trips around town to collect the appropriate documentation.

Yesterday was especially bad. Due to a previous frustrating day trying to register the Hyundai last year, I knew that they were going to send me to the county clerk's office for a property tax waiver/receipt. So, to streamline the process I went straight to the county clerk. I obtained said property tax waiver and left the county clerk's office feeling successful because I had only had to visit with two different offices (on two floors) in stead of four, like my last trip there.

Confidently, I drove across town to the Licensing Office with a folder full of all the documentation I needed. I had everything to transfer the car to Joe and I (as its title had previously been in my Mom's name) and to register it. I had the title signed over to Joe and I, the bill of sales stating that we had purchase the car for five dollars from my mom, the state safety inspection, proof of insurance, and I even had a sheet of paper with Joe's and my mother's social security numbers written down just in case. I felt prepared as I walked through their double doors.

After a short wait, I was called up by one of the employees. Before her I spread my paperwork proudly, anticipating a quick transaction. After mulling over my offerings she looked up at me and asked, "do you have the release of lien from the original lender?"

Crestfallen, I answered that I did not. Away I was sent to frantically search through my files for the release of lien. Miraculously, I had it, notarized as it needed to be. So, once again I made my way to the Licensing Office, more cautiously this time. After another short wait in line a different employee called me up to her window. Again, I lay all my papers out before her. This second employee looks everything over and explains that Jefferson City (the state capital) will not except the sale of a vehicle for less than $100.00. Therefore, I needed to get a gift affidavit signed by my mother.

Nearly in tears, I explained that my mother lives in California and asked how she was supposed to sign aforementioned affidavit. The answer came back, "she can fax it to you, we don't need this one notarized." Fabulous. Neither my mother nor I have a fax machine. I left the office demoralized once again.

After several phone calls to my Mom, a trip to Kinko's for her, a drive out to CSS for me, and yet another trip to the Licensing Office, the Hyundai finally got registered.

I hate them.

Whip It, & Whip It Good!

I was doing a little bit of self reflecting today, i.e. not paying attention in class, when I realized that I have no stress relief mechanisms in place for myself. Instead, I tend to hold on to stress with a white-knuckled grasp that can only be loosened with a crowbar (and the removal or passing of the stress causer).

Realized is probably the wrong choice of words however, as this is not, nor should it be, a new thought about myself. I have made myself fairly ill in the pass simply from being under a good amount stress (yeah jr. year of high school!). Of course, you maybe wondering why you all care. Here's why; life is starting to work its stressful magic on me and I would like to deal with it before illness sets in. That's where you come in. I need everyone to comment with their own stress relieving methods and activities. Maybe it I do ALL of them at once, I can manage to let go of the worries and pressure.

Thank you for your forthcoming assistance!

You know your day is going to suck when...

..you wake up for school the time you normally leave...
..upon waking up late, you realize that you have a lab exam and need to dress up and look nice...
..look in mirror and notice left eye is all but swollen closed...
..you forget to eat breakfast...
..forget to brush your hair...
..you, in a hurry due to above problems, get stuck behind those people...
..you know the ones that feel that regulating your speed is some how their problem...
..forget to take allergy medicine...
..forget your notebook at home...
..fail (potentially) the easiest lab exam to date...
..come home to find your husbands car at home, rather than at work where it should be...
..fantasies about all the awful reasons that said car is home...
..come inside to find huge diarrhea explosion from dog, but no husband...


..and especially when ALL OF THEM HAPPEN!!!

Things I Have Learned Today or how not to get your security deposit back

After Joe posts, I usually like to wait a few days so that his occasional contribution can bask in the glory that the top of the blog entails for at least a little while. This morning however, I have been graced with two life lessons that just begged to be shared.

1. If your dog, who usually sits quietly on the end of the bed while you do any number of things in effort to improve the mediocrity that is your everyday look, starts to whine, even before you get out of bed, do not say, "Silly dog, be quite I have sleeping to do" and ignore her. Rather, the appropriate response is, "Just a moment while I rush into any available sweater, I will take you outside momentarily."

2. If you have two cleaning products with very different purposes but very similar packages, store them in different locations. That way, there will be no opportunity to take the following photograph in your apartment.